Fernie Cyclists enjoy the Gravel Royale
August 29, 2024
The TransRockies Classic riders spent the day racing in Nipika Resort on day three of their seven day journey from Panorama to Fernie. The TransRockies Classic represents the return of one of the world’s most rugged and spectacular cycling events. Crossing the continental divide while traversing from Panorama Mountain Resort to Fernie, the TransRockies Classic is an epic point-to-point 500+km journey for hardy riders. Fernie is the only community to have hosted all of the TransRockies Classic events.
Electrical storms overnight had the start line buzzing with extra energy. Stage 3 featured the trails around Nipika, and light precipitation had the trails in prime condition for the 41 km of high speed racing on tap. The stage highlights included the Natural Bridge trail that followed a raging torrent of a creek down a slot canyon, and the No Right Turns trail, perched atop a precipitous spine over the Kootenay River.
Stage 3 also marked the conclusion of the TR3 edition of the race, a shortened three day version of the classic TransRockies experience.
Troy Nixon, Fernie local, placed second in the Open Mens Solo division of TR3. Here’s what he had to say about his experience the last three days: “I turn 50 this year, and was able to convince my wife I should do the race as part of my 50th birthday present to myself. The three day version gave me the ability to sneak away for a few days of riding amazing trails, and still take the family out to the lake this week.
The racing in our group was super tight. I was third on days one and two. I was about 53 seconds back from the guy in front of me, and was able to chase him down today on the trails and put enough time on him to finish up second overall.
I am the president of the Fernie Mountain Bike Club, and serve on the Fernie City Council as an elected offical as well. My boss, the Mayor of Fernie, was super supportive of me doing the race. When I told her I was planning to do it for my birthdy this year she was fully on board. In Fernie, we are all about team work.”
Thursday the TR7 riders continue on to White Swan, followed by Elkford, Crowsnest and finish in Fernie this Sunday, July 28th. The Fernie team of Krista Turcasso and Mark Elson continue their journey and perhaps face the biggest challenge on their final day coming into Fernie. It’s a good thing they have a strong support from their pit crew!
Stage 7 — Crowsnest Start to Fernie Finish — features 83 kms and over 3000 meters of climbing. This final stage is the queen stage and the riders will most certainly have earned their voyage having completed this epic day. The big drop is Porky Blue!
The 13th Kids’ Bike Rally is also being staged again at the TransRockies classic finish. When 100+ riders roll into the finish line for the Transrockies Classic Finish, 100+ kids’ aged 3 – 9 will be enjoying a fun bike rally starting at Gearhub and finishing at the Aquatic Centre. See the details and register here.
The Transrockies Classic Finish is being held in the outdoor skating rink and the public is invited to attend, participate in the hospitality, and cheer on the racers. Food and beverage will be open from 11am to 5pm and the riders should be arriving during that time frame.
Stage 7 Fernie trails include: Porky Blue, Coal Discovery Trail (TCT), Little Chain Ring, Kush, Contra, Flow Wrkr and the Coal Creek Heritage Trail to the Fernie Aquatic Centre. All trails remain open to the public and Contra should be the most entertaining trail to view the finishers.
The TransRockies has been a large part of shaping Fernie’s mountain bike scene and it will continue to do so.
A big thanks to our sponsors who help make this event happen, including: Gearhub Sports, Teck, Park Place Lodge, Red Tree Lodge, The Raging Elk, Fernie RV Resort, Fernie Slopeside Lodge, Lizard Creek Lodge, Fernie Lodging Company, Snow Valley Lodging, Fernie Central Reservations and Happy Cow Ice Cream.
The TransRockies Classic is returning to Fernie as the premier summer biking event! For the 13th time Fernie will host the Classic—there has never been a Classic without Fernie.
The TransRockies Classic represents the return of one of the world’s most rugged and spectacular cycling events. Crossing the continental divide while traversing from Panorama Mountain Resort to Fernie, British Columbia, the TransRockies Classic is an epic point-to-point 500+km journey for hardy riders.
Fernie has has its share of riders participating in past years and this year will be no different. You can expect to see Fernie’s top XC racers in the cast.
“I rode for sometimes eight hours. I was challenged for seven days. But the experience, friendship and memories will last a lifetime. Thank-you to the organizers and support for your determination to make the TransRockies challenge so successful.” — Pepper Couelle-
On Sunday, July 28 the riders will roll into Downtown Fernie to complete Stage 7 — Crowsnest Start to Fernie Finish. This final stage is the queen stage and the riders will most certainly have earned their voyage having completed this epic day. The big drop is Porky Blue!
The 13th Kids’ Bike Rally is also being staged again at the TransRockies classic finish. When 100+ riders roll into the finish line for the Transrockies Classic Finish, 100+ kids’ aged 3 – 9 will be enjoying a fun bike rally. Read more and register here.
To catch all the action see the details and get your Fernie accommodations here.
With the legendary 2019 TransRockies Classic just over a month out, the TransRockies team has already laid the groundwork for their next Fernie visit, which is already less than a year out. The Singletrack 6 version of the TransRockies Mountain Bike Stage Race will return in 2020 with a new earlier date: June 8-13! While TransRockies Classic is a remote and epic journey through the Canadian Rockies, covering over 500km, the Singletrack 6 version dials down the distance and ramps up the percentage of hand-crafted singletrack trails in authentic BC mountain biking communities.
The TransRockies SIngletrack 6 has become a legend in its own right over the past 5 years, and while we’ve taken a year off from the format in 2019 to bring back the epic goodness of the Classic, ST6 is back in 2020 with a great new route, more timed descents and some of our favourite mountain bike communities! The 2020 TransRockies Singletrack 6 will feature two days each in Fernie, Kimberley and Rossland. Each stage will include some of the best singletrack mountain bike trails in each community, followed by evening socials and dining in these vibrant communities.
The TransRockies has been a large part of shaping Fernie’s mountain bike scene and it will continue to do so.
A big thanks to our sponsors who help make this event happen, including: Gearhub Sports, Teck, Park Place Lodge, Red Tree Lodge, The Raging Elk, Fernie RV Resort, Fernie Slopeside Lodge, Lizard Creek Lodge, Fernie Lodging Company, Snow Valley Lodging, Fernie Central Reservations and Happy Cow Ice Cream.
The Fernie Lucky 7’s were a success despite the weather. The forecast looked grim all week and Saturday morning the skies opened just as the U15 girls and boys were about to start at 9am. Despite the rain, and weather cancellations, all events were held with no injuries or trail damage.
The Fernie Lucky 7’s, organized by the Fernie Transrockies Society (FTS), earned a round of applause from the participants. The riders were mostly from Alberta and the Elk Valley and the event is a cross-country solo and relay event that caters to all abilities looking for a fun experience. Competitive endurance and XC racers were challenged in the 7-hour solo and team category events. Families, youth and company teams loved the team participation and fun course.
The participants ranged from two to 70 in age! Solo riders pedaled up to 95kms, and a mix of teams and solo riders earned seven laps in the seven-hour event. The Kids’ Bike Rally enjoyed its 12th year and a one lap U15 girls and boys race was hotly contested.
The applause was based on the fun that was packed into the day. Sam Moffat kept the crowd moving with his music and the food and beverage was excellent. Volunteers from the Fernie Mountain Bike Club, the Fernie Nordic Society and the Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club ensured a swift execution and organized event. Everyone had a fun experience and most left with amazing prizes from Gearhub Sports.
Lucky 7 prize winners included top finishers in all categories and lucky winners from Gearhub’s Lucky 7’s Craps table. All participants rolled the fuzzy dice for each lap completed and the top rolls were winners. Everyone was a winner in the Fernie Lucky 7’s!
We have these great sponsors to thank for the events success: GearHub Sports, Rocky Mountain, The City of Fernie, Teck, Fernie Brewing Company, The Bridge Bistro, Montane Fernie, Park Place Lodge, Fernie Alpine Resort, Honey Stinger, and Fernie Alpine Resort.
The FTS is a not-for-profit society with 15 years of history organizing mountain bike events in Fernie. It began with the TransRockies Challenge in 2002 and moved on to Canada Cup Mountain biking, the Fernie Enduro, the Fernie 3 and now the Fernie Lucky 7’s. The FTS’s mandate has been to promote biking with all age groups, raise monies for trails, and increase destination bike visitors. In their 16 years of managing Fernie bike events they have generated over $50,000 in funding for trails and recreational organizations.
Here is a visual recap of the event:
The Fernie Lucky 7’s are Ready-Set-Go for Saturday, June 23rd!
The Fernie Luckys 7’s is a cross-country mountain bike event that caters to those looking for a fun experience. Competitive endurance and XC racers will be challenged in the 7-hour solo and team relay events. Families, youth and company teams will love the team options and fun course.
The routes are finalized and all the support teams are in place. The Fernie Mountain Bike club is managing the marshaling, The Fernie Nordic Society is managing the timing, and the The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club is marking the course.
Gearhub Sports is the main sponsor and will be at the event with great prizes, rider mechanical support, Sam will be playing music, Gearhub staff are racing, and Flippin Crepes will be serving food and Fernie Beer all day. Gearhub will also be operating the Crap’s table! Every rider will get to roll the dice for each lap completed to win great prizing!
The Fernie Aquatic Center is Fernie’s best bike event venue with great connection to the trails and the adjacent bike park.
For event details, participants can download the Event Program here: Lucky 7s 2018 Event Program
Registration remains open until Friday, June 22nd. Fernie Mountain Bike Club members get a 20% discount with the discount code “FMBC”. Register here today!
Kids’ Bike Rally (U9 to U3)
The Fernie Kids’ Bike Rally is returning for its 12th year! When 120 riders roll up to the start line for the Fernie Lucky 7’s, kids’ aged 3 to 9 will be preparing for a free and fun bike rally.
This mini-rally has been a great success for the past decade and will add to the festivities surrounding the Lucky 7’s. The bike rally is free and is limited to the first 100 kids to register. Registration is at Gearhub Sports. Start times are between at 11am and 12:30 at Gearhub Sports. The rally route takes about one hour and kids must be accompanied by a parent. Gearhub Sports start the kids off on their big adventure spruced up with Fernie Lucky 7’s plates and an event map. Next stop is at Fernie Aquatic Centre where the kids’ will decorate their bikes. From there the Fernie Lucky 7’s will hydrate and feed the kids for the last leg to the Gearhub tent to roll the Lucky 7’s dice for a prize.
See the details and register your kids’ here.
Based on the success of the 2017 Fernie Lucky 7’s, we are happy to announce that next years event date is Saturday, June 23rd 2018 and registration is open.
To get the dice rolling we are offering the first 50 registrants 25% off Early Bird pricing. The discount code is “First50” and registration details are here.
The Fernie Luckys 7’s is a cross-country mountain bike event that caters to those looking for a fun experience. Competitive endurance and XC racers will be challenged in the 7-hour solo and team relay events. Families, youth and company teams will love the team options and fun course.
The Fernie Transrockies Society launched the Fernie Lucky 7’s, in June of 2017 with a round of applause from the participants. The event proved to be both fun and lucky for everyone. It was inclusive with participants ranging in age from two to 70. All participants got to roll the dice for a chance to take home great prizing from Gearhub Sports–most did!
The solo riders pedaled up to 95kms, teams of two managed eight laps on the 13.5km course, and the family and corporate three person teams had a full day! The Kids’ Bike Rally enjoyed its 11th year and a one lap U15 girls and boys race was hotly contested. The applause was based on the fun that was packed into the seven-hour event.
Fernie Lucky 7’s details:
The Fernie Lucky 7’s course will feature moderate climbs with lots of passing options and fun rolling downhill’s. The selected course is a 13.5 km loop with only 350 meters of vertical climbing.
Lucky winners will be selected from the Lucky 7 Craps table. All participants will have a chance to roll the dice for the winning Lucky 7’s. The top finishers from the categories will also be recognized.
The Fernie Luck 7’s categories are designed to be inclusive. The U15 and U9 events will continue and the family and corporate categories open opportunities for great experiences.
Categories include:
Men’s Solo, Open, 40+, 50+
Women’s Solo, Open, 40+
Teams of 2: Men’s Open, Mens 40+, Women’s, Mixed & Family
Teams of 3: Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Mixed, Family & Corporate
Kids’ solo: U15 Girls & Boys
Kids’ Lucky 7 Rally: U9 Girls & Boys FREE
Registration opens December 1st and entries are limited to 150. Rally your friends, family and workmates to register early for early-bird pricing. Everybody will be a winner at the Fernie Lucky 7’s!
About the Fernie TransRockies Society
The FTS is a not-for-profit society with 15 years of organizing mountain bike events in Fernie. It began with the TransRockies Challenge in 2002 and moved on to Canada Cup Mountain biking, the Fernie Enduro, the Fernie 3 and most recently, the Fernie Lucky 7’s. The FTS’s mandate has been to promote biking with all age groups and abilities, raise monies for trails, and increase destination biking. In the 15 years of managing events in Fernie we have generated over $50,000 in funding for trails and recreational organizations.
The Fernie Transrockies Society (FTS) launched their latest mountain bike event, the Fernie Lucky 7’s, June with a round of applause from the participants. And the participants represented riders from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana and Idahio!
The Fernie Lucky 7’s is a cross-country solo and relay event that caters to riders of all abilities looking for a fun experience. Competitive endurance and XC racers were challenged in the 7-hour solo and team category events. Families, youth and company teams loved the team participation and fun course.
The participants ages ranged from two to 70! Solo riders pedaled for up to 95kms, teams of two managed eight laps on the 13.5km course, and the family and corporate three person teams had a full day! The Kids’ Bike Rally enjoyed its 11th year and a one lap U15 girls and boys race was hotly contested. The applause was based on the fun that was packed into the seven-hour event. Everyone had a fun experience and most left with amazing prizes from Gearhub Sports and other sponsors.
Lucky 7 prize winners included top finishers in all categories and lucky winners from Gearhub Sports Lucky 7’s Craps table. All participants rolled the fuzzy dice for each lap completed and the top 30 rolls were winners. The prizing was outstanding, everyone was a winner!
The FTS applause goes to the organizations that supported us and in return we announce the following funding for their support and volunteer efforts. In total $4400 is going to the following Fernie trails and recreational organizations:
Fernie Mountain Bike Club: marshalling $1000
Fernie Nordic Society: timing $1000
Fernie Trails Alliance: trail fees $500
Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club: tent & course marking $1400
Mountainside Youth Group: Kids’ Bike Rally $500
The FTS is a not-for-profit society with 15 years of history organizing mountain bike events in Fernie. It began with the TransRockies Challenge in 2002 and moved on to Canada Cup Mountain biking, the Fernie Enduro, the Fernie 3 and now the Fernie Lucky 7’s. The FTS’s mandate has been to promote biking with all age groups, raise monies for trails, and increase destination visitors. In their 15 years of managing events in Fernie they have generated over $50,000 in funding for trails and recreational organizations.
Such an event would not be possible without support from other organizations. Many thanks to our sponsors for making this event happen, they include: GearHub Sports, The City of Fernie, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Ryders Eyewear, Honey Stinger, Fernie Alpine Resort, Fernie Brewing Company, Tinhorn Creek Winery, The Bridge Bistro, Montane Fernie, Park Place Lodge, and Happy Cow.